This Thursday’s Table Topics question is: When teleportation is finally possible, where will you beam yourself first?

I don’t know if other people have also fantasized as much as I have about teleporting, but it’s always something I wish I could do. It’s always been one of my top few choices when the question of which superpower I’d like to have comes up. Maybe I’m just lazy.

That being the case, my first ‘port would likely be somewhere close: maybe to the grocery store (depending on how much I could carry with me) or to work.

I’m quite happy with my current commute. If traffic is good it rarely takes me longer than five minutes to get to work.

That answers where I would likely teleport to first, I would probably use the teleporter to visit my family up north more often. It would, hopefully, be cheaper than flying and quicker.

Of course, I’d probably enjoy traveling the world too.

So, what do you think: When teleportation is finally possible, where will you beam yourself first?

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This Thursday’s Table Topics question is: Is it always better to know the truth, even when it hurts?

I would say that it’s usually better to know the truth and I’m not sure that how much it hurts is necessarily a factor for when it’s better and when it’s not.

Beyond the truths that are just none of my business, there are truths that it probably wouldn’t help me to know.

For instance, if someone had said unkind things about me once or twice, I understand that nobody is perfect and everyone can be mean and unthinking from time to time, but if occasional gossiping or venting is not a sign of anything more serious, I don’t see the benefit of knowing about it.

Granted, that answer took a whole High School, “Mean Girls” turn but I’m sure there are other instances where an unpleasant truth is not necessary for me to know.

So, what do you think? Is it always better to know the truth, even when it hurts?

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The topic for this Table Topics Thursday is: What do you want to be remembered for?

I would like to be remembered less for anything I’ve done and more for the type of person I am.

Keeping in mind what I’ve previously mentioned about what I believe to be the limits of self-knowledge, I would hope to be remembered for being smart and funny but more so for being a genuinely kind and helpful person.

She whispers
“please remember me
When I am gone from here”
She whispers
“please remember me
But not with tears…
Remember I was always true
Remember that I always tried
Remember I loved only you
Remember me and smile…
For it’s better to forget
Than to remember me
And cry”

“remember I was always true
Remember that I always tried
Remember I loved only you
Remember me and smile…
For it’s better to forget
Than to remember me
And cry… “

Of course, I wouldn’t mind being known as the world’s greatest public speaker and a legendary Toastmaster.

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This Thursday’s Table Topic is: List three countries you’d like to visit, and why you want to go.

Picking three could be a challenge. But let’s start with the easy one.

My first choice would have to be Ireland. This is where my mother’s people came from and I’ve always heard great things about it. I’ve heard that it’s an absolutely beautiful country and I’ve always been proud of my Irish heritage. I’d love to go there and connect to it. I might even do some genealogical research during my visit. I’ve also always loved the sound of a brogue and wouldn’t mind visiting a Toastmasters club there and listen to them speak.

Since the other half of my matrilineal heritage is from England, I wouldn’t mind visiting there since I’d be in the area any way. I’d do all the touristy things and visit all the historical landmarks.

Not to be too Eurocentric, but for my third visit, I’d probably choose Germany. While I do have a small bit of German heritage, this trip would be less for genealogy, and more just for sight-seeing.

Now, for full disclosure, I must admit that I’m not much for traveling; I’ve never left the country and the farthest from the East Coast I’ve gone is to St. Louis, so these trips aren’t likely.

But if I did travel, these would probably be the places I’d like to go.

So now it’s your turn: List three countries you’d like to visit, and why you want to go.

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This Thursday’s Table Topics Question is: Would you rather live by the beach or in the mountains?

I realize that this is similar to a previous topic (or at least lends itself to a similar answer).

Last time, I had a hard time choosing between and, given that I enjoy where I live now (closer to beach than mountain), I would choose beach.

I’m going to pull the old “nice place to visit…” cliché now. I’ve visited the mountains before and enjoyed it. However, I do enjoy living in a beach town. Never mind that I almost never actually visit the beach.

Maybe it’s just the idea of the beach. I enjoy the salt smell of the sea. I like the sound of gulls.

So, to live, I would choose the sea.

So, what about you: Would you rather live by the beach or in the mountains?

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This Thursday’s Table Topics question is: Who has inspired you as a mentor and why?

When I presented Mentoring, from the Successful Club Series, I used the following example from my past to personalize the benefits of mentoring for the audience.

When I started work in the job I had before my current one, I felt very much out of my depth. It was my first real programming job and I didn’t know whether I had the skills or experience required. Added to the fact that my pay took a quite sizable jump at the new job made me even more worried about not measuring up.

However, in my first week, one of my new teammates took me very much under his wing. He was extraordinarily supportive and helpful.

I was given a task to do and when he looked over what I had done, he praised me in terms that I remember fondly to this day. He called me: Alpha Geek.

With his support, praise and tutelage, I was able to quickly overcome my insecurities and grow in both skill and confidence. I hope that I’ve been able to pay it forward and help someone else to grow and develop.

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This Thursday’s Topic is: If you could have any view from your back porch, what would it be?

I’m finding this one especially difficult for some reason.

I think the reason is that each of my immediate responses feel clichéd.

Whether it’s a beach view…

or a view of the woods…

or the mountains…

It all seems kind of trite.

That’s not to say that I would mind any of these views, but none of them really speak to me as especially wondrous and I’m sure there are more meaningful answers that wouldn’t feel so overused, but I can’t think of any at the moment.

If I had to choose, I would probably opt for the beach view. I wouldn’t choose the mountains because I’m not particularly fond of heights and I would avoid the woods because I’ve been in cabins in the woods and the bugs were horrible.

I love the sights and smells of the beach and I’d love to be near it, as long as I didn’t need to walk on the sand too much.

So…maybe you’ve got a better answer. Let me know: If you could have any view from your back porch, what would it be?

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Educational Progress

Educational Progress

Adv. Communicator Gold Requirements:Adv. Communicator Silver: Completed
Coach a new member through first speech project.
Presentation from the Success/Leadership Series, Success/Communication Series or a Youth Leadership.
Two Adv. Communicator Manuals:
Speaking to Inform: 2/5 speeches
Speeches by Management: 0/5 speeches

As a college senior, John Mabry was involved in tragic car crash that killed one of his close friends, and resulted in a partial amputation of one of his legs. Mabry subsequently struggled with depression, addiction, and PTSD for more than a decade. He worked as a stuntman and actor, appearing in American TV series such as NCIS, ER and Cold Case, and appeari […]